The Gallery of Illustrious Americans, containing the portraits and biographical sketches of twenty-four of the most eminent citizens of the American Republic, since the death of Washington. From daguerreotypes by Brady - engraved by d'Avignon

New York: M.B.Brady, F.d'Avignon, C.Edwards Lester, 1850. First edition. 1st series only (all published), Letterpress presentation, title and salutation leaves. 12 lithographic portraits on india paper, mounted as issued, by d'Avignon after daguerreotypes by Brady (11) and a painting by S. Gambardella (1). Each plate with the publisher's blindstamp in the lower margin, as issued. List of plates in the rear. Folio. Publisher's blue cloth gilt, rebacked, minor wear at board edges. Some foxing as usual. Provenance: Isaac Hutchins Cady (signature and 19th century family inscriptions). First edition. 1st series only (all published), Letterpress presentation, title and salutation leaves. 12 lithographic portraits on india paper, mounted as issued, by d'Avignon after daguerreotypes by Brady (11) and a painting by S. Gambardella (1). Each plate with the publisher's blindstamp in the lower margin, as issued. List of plates in the rear. Folio. A complete example of this famous and rare book, a series of remarkable and compelling lithographic portraits after daguerreotypes by Brady.

Although advertised as being complete in twenty-four lithographed portraits after Brady's daguerreotypes, only twelve parts were ever issued. In 1845, "Brady began work on the tremendous project of preserving for posterity the pictures of all distinguished Americans, which he planned to publish in a massive volume with the title of The Gallery of Illustrious Americans ... The year 1850 was ... a milestone in Brady's life; his dream of having his Gallery ... published became a reality" (J.D.Horan, Mathew Brady Historian with a camera [1955] pp.10-14).

The work was a joint publishing venture between the journalist and author Charles Edwards Lester,who wrote the biographical sketches, the lithographer F. d'Avignon and Brady. Although it received good reviews in the press, sales of the expensive production ($20 for the entire subscription of the proposed 24 parts or $1 per number) were disappointing, with Brady unable to recoup the $100 per stone he had paid to D'Avignon and the project abandoned after the twelfth part.

The subjects of the work are as follows:
1. General Zachary Taylor, twelfth President of the United States
2. John Caldwell Calhoun
3. Daniel Webster
4. Silas Wright
5. Henry Clay
6. John Charles Fremont
7. John James Audubon
8. William Hickling Prescott
9. General Winfield Scott
10. President Fillmore
11. William Ellery Channing
12. Lewis Cass. J.D. Horan Mathew Brady historian with a camera pp.10-14; Dorothy Meserve Kunhardt, et. al. Mathew Brady and his world pp.47-48; Harold Francis Pfister Facing the light: Historic American portrait daguerreotypes p.22; Sabin 40221 (calls for a second series in error); Robert Taft Photography and the American scene pp.59-60